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Newport Beach Sperm Whale Watching |
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 Southern California Sperm Whale Description
Although the Sperm whale does not hold the title as the world’s largest mammal (held by the Blue Whale instead), its size is still daunting. At maturity, it will grow to be about 67 to 80 feet long. Incredibly, its brain alone weighs about 18 lbs! But experts argue that its brain size is small compared to the enormous size of its head! This head spans the majority of its body and is easily the whale’s most identifiable feature.
Being as large as it is, the Sperm Whale hardly has any size-worthy predators; but the smaller Killer (Orca) Whale has infamously been among the few opponents who have succeeded.
Another amazing feat of the Sperm whale is that it can dive as far as two miles into the water--- the deepest known of any whale. What’s more, they can stay at this depth for as long as 1.5 hours! This whale will typically live until it is 65 years old.
Southern California Sperm Whale Population
Whaling, or whale hunting which was popular during early part of the 20th century forced the Sperm Whale population onto the list of “endangered species”. Commonly hunted for their “spermaceti”, an element found in oils and candles, the desire for this natural resource made it a popular target. It has largely been the result of a whaling ban and conservation attempts around the world that Sperm whales were saved from extinction. Today, actual numbers for Sperm whales worldwide are not known. But it is estimated that the number ranges as low as 300,000 to as high as 1.1 million.
Southern California Sperm Whale Feeding Habits
Given the massive size of the Sperm whale, an equally massive consumption of food is necessary for its survival. Sperm whales feed on squids (including the “Giant squid), octopus, and other fish. In a single day, it can eat an amount of food that is equivalent to nearly 3 percent of its own body weight. This amounts to over 100 tons of food a year! By these statistics, the Sperm Whale eats more marine life in a year than the entire human population does in the same time frame.
Unfortunately for the Sperm whale, one of the misfortunes of being so enormous is that, occassionally it will swallow creatures that it did not intend to eat. This fortuitous fact is the inspiration behind the Hermann Melville’s infamous novel, “Moby Dick.
Southern California Sperm Whale Migratory Patterns
Researchers have learned that Sperm whales have very expansive migration patterns; but pinpointing a definitive area has been difficult because these patterns are rather complex. For example, what is known is that Sperm Whales travel from north to south and back throughout the seasons. Yet, other experts have discovered some Sperm whales who have stayed in the same area for the entire year. Over the years, these sporadic findings have led scholars to conclude that Sperm whales generally have individually-determined migration patterns.
Newport Beach Whale Watching conducts whale and dolphin watching cruises seven days a week with tours at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. It is a good idea to arrive early as these cruises do fill up quickly. Tours usually last from two to two and a half hours. Ticket prices are as follows:
Individual Ticket Prices – Two Hour to 2 ½ Hour Cruise
Adults $30
Seniors (62 and over) $25
Children (11 and under) $18
Children (2 and under) FREE!
Ticket Prices for groups of 25 or more.
Adults $22
Seniors (62 and over) $18
Children (11 and under) $12
Children (2 and under) FREE!
You can order your tickets online by clicking the button, or calling 562-432-4900. If you have a discount coupon, please present it at the ticket booth.
We look forward to seeing you and continuing to make Newport Beach Whale Watching your choice for whale watching in southern California. We offer convenient parking and are located near many area attractions such as The Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach Lighthouse and Queen Mary as well as excellent shopping and restaurant so you can make a day of it. Whale watching is a wonderful experience regardless of age. We can’t wait to provide the best whale watching in southern California experience possible.
For more information on other Southern California Whales, please click on the link below:
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